Since the year 2000, Ziscosteel has been facing a cocktail of challenges that resulted in the company’s closure in 2008. Since then it has been a tale of broken promises and false hopes for the steel workers and their families. The struggling workers had pinned their hopes on the New Zimbabwe Steel partnership deal, agreed between the government and Indian firm, Essar group. But the endless squabbling between NewZim Minerals, formerly Buchwa Iron Ore company, over iron ore deposits and the shareholding structure of the new company has worsened the workers’ plight.
“There is untold suffering in Redcliff because of the closure of the company. Most of the people in Redcliff and its suburbs such as Rutendo and Torwood were employed by Zisco and their livelihood used to depend on the company. When Zisco stopped breathing every creature stopped breathing as well,” said Rodgers Chisi, the former executive mayor of the area in a recent interview.
“As the main industry, it was supporting a number of industries and commercial companies such as banks,” he added.
Freddy Kanyekwere has now relocated to Malawi where his parents originated from because life had become unbearable. “I worked for Zisco as a grinder for 30 years. Since the closure of the company life has been very difficult for me. Before things started deteriorating in the late 1990s, workers we used to enjoy quality life which was envied by many.
Chisi blamed the government for the demise of the company, saying: “The previous government allowed this giant to die. People who were appointed to run the company were selected on patronage system and were never made to account for their corrupt activities. The community will soon speak through the elections. We will express our anger to whoever we view as being responsible for the demise of the company.” As government and Essar continue to squabble the KiSwahili saying “When two elephants fight, the grass suffers” continues to be a reality for the workers
Post published in: News